Today I have been ruminating in the spirit of this Christmas season. What joy comes with the season! Dazzling store displays, great shopping bargains, parties and celebrations, Christmas cards in the mail, pictures of friends, letters of how the year has been, decorated trees, shared meals, Christmas cookies, and gift giving. All of which I look forward to each year and this year like others, I have so much enjoyed sharing the season with children and friends.
Today though, I have been wondering if I have really grasped the immensity of the Greatest Christmas Gift of all time - the gift of the Son of God fully divine and fully human! A Savior is born! He came to love us, to teach us to love, to bring forgiveness, and ultimately to offer to each of us the gift of eternal life. Sometimes I think this astonishing gift becomes just part of the Christmas story that I have memorized over the years. What questions might I ponder to help me examine my own acceptance of this great and glorious gift…
· Have I overlooked the depth of the joy as I focus on my own desire to enjoy the festivities?
· What has Christ offered to me, personally, all wrapped up, that is just waiting for me to open and receive?
· How will I enjoy this gift of Christ this year?
· A large part of receiving this gift is to give it away, how will I give of this gift this year?
· How will people around me know that I have opened and received the gift of Christ?
Wow…this gift we are freely offered brings a life everlasting, filled with wisdom, peace, and compassion - - who could want for more?
Friday, December 26, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thinking about the future...
Recently I was with a group of friends and we were wondering just how the future of the car companies might impact our community. At work today I was lamenting with a co-worker about investments in the big three that were once stalwarts are now downgraded to junk status and remembering how we used to contemplate “which” of the big three was the best investment. Everyday I read the news headlines that shout with variations of the potential options that range from the auto companies will be bailed out to “may they rust in peace”. Which will it be? Just how bad could it get?
I read a newspaper article today that asked the question – “Who has the clearest vision to see through this speculation?” When I read this, I immediately responded to myself. Doesn’t take much for me as a believer to answer that question, without a doubt - God is the one with the clear vision. Whew, I should feel better knowing that I have the right answer to that one!
But, that question stayed with me all day. I found myself asking further questions of myself. So, God knows, but, what does that mean to me today? Just knowing that God knows what will happen, is that enough to bring me to a place of peace? Since I am the world’s best “fix-it” person, I also wrestled with questions like…what can I do? How can I fix this? When do I? Where?
Then, it occurred to me…God doesn’t want me to know what will happen – not now anyway. The future’s NOT for me to know. I live right here, right now, today. I am who I am today. I tried to settle with those thoughts a little.
Now, I realize, I am asking myself all the wrong questions. Instead, I should be asking:
· What steps can I take now to prepare myself spiritually for whatever comes along?
· Am I living by the scripture “be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”?
· Am I faithful to my time in prayer?
· Have I made myself fully available to God?
· Am I giving God glory?
· I am an “outsider” to the auto industry, am I being sensitive and responsive to those around me that are more directly impacted?
I read a newspaper article today that asked the question – “Who has the clearest vision to see through this speculation?” When I read this, I immediately responded to myself. Doesn’t take much for me as a believer to answer that question, without a doubt - God is the one with the clear vision. Whew, I should feel better knowing that I have the right answer to that one!
But, that question stayed with me all day. I found myself asking further questions of myself. So, God knows, but, what does that mean to me today? Just knowing that God knows what will happen, is that enough to bring me to a place of peace? Since I am the world’s best “fix-it” person, I also wrestled with questions like…what can I do? How can I fix this? When do I? Where?
Then, it occurred to me…God doesn’t want me to know what will happen – not now anyway. The future’s NOT for me to know. I live right here, right now, today. I am who I am today. I tried to settle with those thoughts a little.
Now, I realize, I am asking myself all the wrong questions. Instead, I should be asking:
· What steps can I take now to prepare myself spiritually for whatever comes along?
· Am I living by the scripture “be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”?
· Am I faithful to my time in prayer?
· Have I made myself fully available to God?
· Am I giving God glory?
· I am an “outsider” to the auto industry, am I being sensitive and responsive to those around me that are more directly impacted?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thinking Big
One of the great preachers of our day is Fred Craddock who tells a story of his boy hood. He says, “… once I was taken out of the house and to the backyard and was allowed to lie on the grass and chew the tender stems of grass.
You know how you do on a summer evening, just lie there, chew the tender grass, and look up at the sky. And my father said to me, “Son, how far can you think?” I said, “What?” He said, “How far can you think?” “Well, I don’t know what you mean.” “Just think as far as you can think up toward the stars.” I screwed my imagination down, and I said, “I’m thinking…I’m thinking…I’m thinking.” He said, “Think as far as you can think.” “I’m thinking as far as I can think.” He said,
“Well, drive down a stake out there now. In your mind, drive down a stake, Have you driven down the stake? That’s how far you can think.” I said, “Yes, sir.” He said, “Now what’s on the other side of your stake?” I said, “Well, there’s more sky.” He said, “Move your stake.” And we spent the evening moving my stake out there. It was a crazy thing to do, [said Fred] but I will never thank him enough for doing it.
Fred’s story has encouraged me to keep thinking bigger – moving my stake!
This story was related to our Acts 16:5 team by Stan Ott.
What does God have in mind for Geneva ? How far can you think?
Keith M
You know how you do on a summer evening, just lie there, chew the tender grass, and look up at the sky. And my father said to me, “Son, how far can you think?” I said, “What?” He said, “How far can you think?” “Well, I don’t know what you mean.” “Just think as far as you can think up toward the stars.” I screwed my imagination down, and I said, “I’m thinking…I’m thinking…I’m thinking.” He said, “Think as far as you can think.” “I’m thinking as far as I can think.” He said,
“Well, drive down a stake out there now. In your mind, drive down a stake, Have you driven down the stake? That’s how far you can think.” I said, “Yes, sir.” He said, “Now what’s on the other side of your stake?” I said, “Well, there’s more sky.” He said, “Move your stake.” And we spent the evening moving my stake out there. It was a crazy thing to do, [said Fred] but I will never thank him enough for doing it.
Fred’s story has encouraged me to keep thinking bigger – moving my stake!
This story was related to our Acts 16:5 team by Stan Ott.
What does God have in mind for Geneva ? How far can you think?
Keith M
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Hope Today .....
In recent days I find myself involved in conversations that seem to be filled with doom: lost jobs, financial stresses, declining 401(k) balances, lost home values, and so forth. I signed onto the internet tonite only to read headlines of the Dow dropping (again), fraud in large businesses, murder/suicide of an entire family, the severe beating of an eldery woman to rob her of her cash and jewelry – all very desperate situations. One could easily become consumed by this talk and begin to feel hopeless. I know the cliches that I hear (and have probably stated myself)…God will not give us more than we can handle, the glass is only half empty, God has a plan for us…these are just three. While there is wisdom in these sayings, it still leaves me wondering as to my “Christian” response to situations like those mentioned above. Then, I am reminded of the words from Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"
I quickly realize that the cliches don’t bring me hope, but God’s word does. And, the Holy Spirit within me brings me hope. When I am focused on God as a God of hope – I know that I can trust in Him and I can rest in Him. In that Hope, I can choose to convey His message of Joy and Peace to those I encounter each day. The struggles that we face in our world today are real, they are immense, they are hugely impacting! We face severe challenges – but when I face those challenges with God’s word close to my heart, I am more consumed by the thought of God’s promises to care for us than by the possibility of destruction in this world.
I wonder…do I really know God’s promise well enough to believe in that hope? In my daily conversations, are there ways I can convey the hope and joy and peace God offers? Can I be the one privileged enough to share God’s joy with another?
How might you find ways to let the joy and peace in you rise above the worries or concerns?
Erin
I quickly realize that the cliches don’t bring me hope, but God’s word does. And, the Holy Spirit within me brings me hope. When I am focused on God as a God of hope – I know that I can trust in Him and I can rest in Him. In that Hope, I can choose to convey His message of Joy and Peace to those I encounter each day. The struggles that we face in our world today are real, they are immense, they are hugely impacting! We face severe challenges – but when I face those challenges with God’s word close to my heart, I am more consumed by the thought of God’s promises to care for us than by the possibility of destruction in this world.
I wonder…do I really know God’s promise well enough to believe in that hope? In my daily conversations, are there ways I can convey the hope and joy and peace God offers? Can I be the one privileged enough to share God’s joy with another?
How might you find ways to let the joy and peace in you rise above the worries or concerns?
Erin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)